by thesaffrongael

Saffrons Eye Three-in-a-Row but Down will pose a major challenge

Armagh City Hotel Ulster Senior Camogie Championship Final

  • Fixture: Antrim vs. Down
  • Date & Time: Tonight (Friday), 7:30 PM
  • Venue: Cargin GAA, Toome

Antrim and Down are set to cross swords tonight in Toome for the Ulster Senior Camogie title, marking the first of at least two crucial encounters between the counties over the next six weeks. With a June 20th clash already in the calander in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Championship—and potential Croke Park meetings later in the summer—tonight is an early opportunity for the Saffrons to lay down a marker

Going into tonight’s provincial decider, the Saffron probably carry the favourites tag, but team manager Elaine Dowds’ will dispel any such talk among her team. She is well aware of the challenge Down present

While a glance at the league tables might suggest similar seasons—both teams secured just one win and faced relegation in February. Antrim spent their spring battling it out in the elite tier of Division 1A, competing fiercely against the very best in the country. Their standout victory came on the road against last August’s All-Ireland senior finalists, Cork—a massive scalp that proves this Saffron squad belongs at the top level. They were also very unlucky to lose out to All Ireland champions Galway when they met in Cushundun.

By contrast, Down operated a tier below in Division 1B. Despite a solid win over Dublin at Fontenoy Park, the Mourne county failed to build any momentum. While they stayed competitive against Limerick and Wexford, Domhnall Nugent’s side were well off the pace against Offaly and Clare.

Both sides cruised through their respective Ulster semi-finals against lower-tier opposition on the last weekend of April, as expected. Anrim beat Derry by 2-13 to 1-3 in their semi-final in Portglenone and while that scorline would suggest that is was one way traffic, for a good part of the game it was anything but, and if they are to win tonights game they will need to be on their toes from the very start this time out.

Teenage sensation Éobha McAllister stole the show against the Oak Leafers, racking up a stunning 1-5. With dead-eye free-taker Nicole McAtamney continually punishing opposition indiscretions, Abut it took them a long time to get going that day.

Manager Elaine Dowds does has the luxury of a strengthening hand. The semi-final saw Becky Ellis step comfortably into the goalkeeper jersey, while highly experienced defenders Caoimhe McNaughton and Caoimhe Conlon returned from injury for their first starts of the season. Getting vital minutes into these proven players only makes Antrim a more formidable prospect tonight, especially with a number of senior players also balancing Sunday’s All-Ireland U23 semi-final against Limerick.

Down’s semi-final victory over Division 3 champions Armagh was comfortable, but stepping into the ring with a battle-hardened Antrim side will be a severe step up in class.

The Mourne women will be looking to players like Gerra McGrattan (who hit 1-4 from play against Armagh) and half-backs Beth Fitzpatrick and Dearbhla Magee to stem the Saffron tide. However, they are a team in transition. Only five players from the Down squad that last won this title in 2023 started their recent semi-final.

Conversely, Antrim’s core remains rock solid. Nine of the starting XV that won the All-Ireland intermediate title five years ago were on the pitch for the semi-final win over Derry.

For Antrim, tonight is about more than just early-season bragging rights. The Saffrons are chasing a third successive provincial title—a historic milestone they haven’t reached in nearly half a century. With top-flight experience, returning veterans, and a cohesive, settled squad, Antrim should be good enough to get the job done, but it will not be the formality that some pundits are suggesting.

by thesaffrongael

St Pat’s beat St Killian’s to book Gallagher Cup final place

PICS BY SEAN TROWLEN

Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-final

St Patrick’s Maghera 3-12 St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-5

ST Patrick’s Maghera established a significant half-time advantage in the first of the Danske Bank Gallagher Cup semi-finals in Ballymena yesterday to fend off a wind-assisted St Killian’s Garron Tower in the second half.

St Killian’s only scored once against the breeze, a pointed free from Morgan McNaughton, but they coped well with the constant pressure from Maghera with goalie Seve Trowlen in superb form.

Maghera turned around at the break with a lead of seven points, but their failure to hit the net left them a little vulnerable for a comeback from the Tower. No fewer than seven players contributed the eight points with Harry McCloskey on two scores.

St Killian’s were more in the game with the breeze behind them but found Maghera difficult to handle on the counter-attack.

Quentin Farren was the first goal-scorer in the second half and, although Morgan McNaughton hit back with a goal for the Tower, Patrick O’Loughlin stretched Maghera’s lead with a second goal. Again St Killian’s hit back, with a goal from Tiarnán McAleenan, but Feargal Convery broke for a third Maghera goal ten minutes from time.

Once more the Tower came back with a goal from Niall McAuley, but they still couldn’t close the gap of seven points that had been there from the break. Ryan Murray. Quentin Farren and Feargal Convery were the stars for Maghera while Morgan McNaughton and goalie Seve Trowlen stood out for the Tower.

St Patrick’s will find out their opponents in next week’s final after the second semi-final today (FRIDAY) in Dunsilly at 1pm between St Mary’s CBGS Belfast and Cross & Passion Ballycastle. CPC, winners of the Danske Bank MacNamee Cup with this team last season, will be favourites to set up a repeat of the MacNamee decider.

St Patrick’s: Q Farren 1-1, P O’Loughlin and F Convery 1-0 each, H McCloskey and R Murray 0-2 each, D Boyle, T McKenna, D McGarrity, A Mulholland, M McGrath, M Duffin and D Kearney 0-1 each.

St Killian’s: M McNaughton 1-3, T McAleenan and N McAuley 1-0 each, C Haughey 0-2.

by thesaffrongael

Antrim beaten by Fermanagh in U16 LGFA brone final

U16 Bronze Ulster Final

Antrim 2-2 Fermanagh 1-10.

It was the second game of the day for Saffrons as Antrim U16s came up against Fermanagh in the Bronze final at Errigal Ciaran.

After a win last week against Down in extra time, Fermanagh came into the game as favourites and that certainly showed as they won the throw in and went straight on the attack only to put their first effort wide of the post.

They soon took a 3 point lead with scores from Lucy Gallagher, Megan Mullally and Jessica Largo-Elis.

Antrim quickly reorganised and tightened up across the field, using the ball a lot better from defence into attack to find Sophie Skelly to opening Antrim’s account for the day.

Antrim continued to press Fermanagh and soon took the lead with a well worked goal from Lauren Magill into the bottom corner of the net to put Antrim in front, but Fermanagh responded straight away to level the game.

Sophie Skelly then restored Antrims lead with a well worked free to Niamh Ní Mhuirrigh who gave the ball back to Skelly to slot it over with her left foot this time.

Antrim then picked up their first yellow card of the game with 5 minutes left of the 1st half and they increased their work rate across the pitch to make sure the Ernesiders did not get level before half time.

Half time Antrim 1-2, Fermanagh 0-4.

Starting the second half Fermanagh used the player advantage to their strength and within seconds of the throw in they went straight for the Antrim net. They caught Antrim on the overlap and captain Jessica Largo-Elis got their only goal to give they back the lead.

Just as Antrim battled to get their defence sorted, they picked up a dubious second yellow card within the opening minutes leave them with 13 players on the field. However, they still worked hard to move the ball only for the final execution of 4 wides in a row, while Fermanagh adding 4 points of their own to increase the lead.

As Antrim returned to 14 players on the field within a minute, they were back to 13 with yet another yellow card.

They worked tirelessly in defence and keeper Hanika Abhol putting in the performance of a lifetime to keep Fermanagh at bay. She retrieved the ball from a Fermanagh attack and carried it out to find Aoibhinn Austin who delivered a cross field ball to Ava le Mahieu on the 45 line. She carried the ball up the field and dispatched an excellent goal to give Antrim some hope.

Again, Antrim failed to covert scorable chances and hit a a few more wide, while Fermanagh didn’t make the same mistake and finished off with 2 frees to end the game.

Antrim U16s players and management will be disappointed in the result but they will learn a lot from that defeat and come back stronger next year.

TO SEE MORE OF BRIAN McKEE’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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by thesaffrongael

Farney Heartbreak for Antrim minors. 

A goal and a point deep into added time saw Monaghan minors snatch victory from a spirited Antrim team. 

In a fiercely competitive game of football Antrim had led from early in the first half right up to the last kick of the game. 

Monaghan started well and scored two early points but a brilliant individual goal by Aoife Leahy put the Saffs in front and with points from Evie McAllister and Jojo Darragh being added to by a brilliant brace of goals from skipper Leah Stewart and then another from Erin Stewart Antrim seemed to be in control at halftime. 

A last minute save by Mia Carlin and brilliant defensive work by Aine McCavana Sally Scullion and Lila McCann all suggested that Monaghan would be a threat in the second period. 

Halftime change of keeper for Antrim seemed to have been a master stroke when Zoey Kerr made a number of brilliant saves to keep the net intact. 

However everything changed with 10 minutes left on the clock. Firstly the industrious and threatening Aoife Fitzsimons had to be assisted off the pitch with an ankle injury and then from the resulting restart Leah Stewart sustained a serious knee injury in a collision. With paramedics having to intervene the Antrim girls were visibly upset and never really recovered their composure. 

Monaghan to their credit kept plugging away at the Antrim lead while the young Saffs struggled to get possession 

Two late goals and a last-kick point in the 5th minute of extra time saw Monaghan take the spoils. 

In a season where the Antrim squad faced injury problems and players unavailable due to school commitments it has to be noted that each player gave everything in the county colours. 

Antrim 4-7 Monaghan 2-14

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by thesaffrongael

Rathmore impress in Gaelfast Year 10 final

Gaelfast Antrim Cup 🏆

Year 10 Football Cup Final

St Louis Grammar School vs Rathmore Grammar School

The second final of the day produced a commanding performance from Rathmore, who proved far too strong for St Louis with an impressive display of attacking football and composure throughout.

The game started nervously, with both sides struggling to gain control in the opening exchanges. Rathmore eventually broke the deadlock when Ryan Maybury found the net, and from there the city side began to take complete command of proceedings.

Rathmore’s dominance continued as Ordhan O’Prey opened his account with a point before Oliver Lloyd added another. O’Prey struck again, and Dermot Logan then blasted home Rathmore’s second goal after an excellent attacking move.

O’Prey added a free before captain Ethan Cox finished another goal following a brilliant surging run from Caleb Logan. Oliver Lloyd then added Rathmore’s fourth goal as the favourites ran riot before the break.

Ordhan O’Prey added another point, but St Louis responded with a well-worked goal. Kiran Jayaprakash made a brilliant run from the wing, cut inside and supplied a hand pass into the square. The ball broke kindly back to him and he calmly fired the rebound to the back of the net.

Half-time: Rathmore 4-5 St Louis 1-0

St Louis showed more fight after the restart, with Conan McKeever — introduced from the bench — kicking an excellent outside-of-the-boot point from a difficult angle.

However, Rathmore quickly regained control. Ethan Cox pointed before Dermot Logan added two more scores. Garrett Finnegan got on the scoresheet, while Logan converted a free as Rathmore continued to dominate possession and territory.

Stephen McKenna then finished another excellent Rathmore move for a goal after strong play from Oliver Lloyd. St Louis responded through Ronan Laverty with a goal of their own, but Rathmore kept pushing forward, with Matthew McMullan raising another green flag.

Dermot Logan added another point before Cillian Gillespie responded for St Louis. Garrett Finnegan pointed again before Ordhan O’Prey finished the contest in style with a superb strike to the top corner of the net.

Wing half-back James Johnston was one of Rathmore’s standout performers, covering huge ground and linking play brilliantly throughout. Ethan Cox and Oliver Lloyd were also outstanding, controlling the defence and midfield areas.

Rathmore’s forward line proved immense, with every attacker contributing on the scoreboard. Ordhan O’Prey, Dermot Logan and Garrett Finnegan were particularly influential in leading the charge.

Despite the defeat, St Louis continued battling until the final whistle. Lorcan Martin repeatedly drove his side forward, while Conan McKeever and Kiran Jayaprakash worked tirelessly in an effort to spark a comeback. Darragh McConnell and Nicholas McRory also impressed defensively with several strong tackles and interceptions.

Overall, it was a comfortable and deserved victory for Rathmore, who showcased excellent composure, movement and attacking quality from start to finish.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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